226 graduate from National Service Corps

Attorney General, Marlene Malahoo Forte (right), presents the trophy for best recruit to Romaine Howell at the passing-out parade for 226 Jamaica National Service Corps soldiers, held on Saturday, at the Moneague Training Camp in St Ann.

A total of 226 Jamaica National Service Corps soldiers, including the first cohort of 42 females, graduated on Saturday, during a ceremony held at the Moneague Training Camp in St Ann.

The graduates went through 14 weeks of rigorous training focused on military service knowledge, basic first aid, and weapons handling, among other areas.

Attorney General Marlene Malahoo Forte, who was the reviewing officer and guest speaker at the ceremony, congratulated the recruits and urged them to stick to the values learnt during their training.

"In the past few weeks, the core values of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) would have been instilled in you - discipline, integrity, honour, commitment, courage, and loyalty. These are values that we so urgently need to see more of in society as we progress towards increased levels of peace and productivity," the Attorney General pointed out.

"I urge you to let the JDF's core values become guiding principles in your life, and may you always have the courage to make the right decision, avoiding any behaviour that would threaten your ability to take up opportunities that may be offered to you in the future. Having this courage will set you apart for the right reason," she noted.

Malahoo Forte said it was remarkable to see the young batch of females joining their male counterparts as equals in the zest to serve and protect the nation.